General Family Law

My article is about a man that was wrongfully accused of a crime. I am asking that readers read my entire story then do their own research as I did. I was so touched by this tragic story that I...

Abusive relationships come in many forms. Physical violence is perhaps the most-discussed type of abuse experienced in a dysfunctional relationship. With that said, mental abuse is also a...

A restraining order is a court order that prohibits someone who has been abusing you from causing further harm. The laws concerning restraining orders and the terms of the order vary by state,...

An order of protection, also known as a protective or restraining order, is granted by a court in cases of domestic violence or other types of familial abuse. Ordinarily, you can get such an order...

A restraining order legally bars a former romantic partner or family member from contacting you. These are usually granted only when there is clear danger to the petitioner. It is possible to...

When you hire a lawyer, never forget, that the lawyer works for you. Especially if you have paid a retainer for the services up front. The lawyer should ask you tough questions and you should not...

Foreign nationals who wish to have their marriage registration in Thailand must prepare some documents from their home country before journeying to the land of smiles. Depending on the county of...

Juvenile court records are subject to strict privacy laws, but can be accessed by authorized parties. If you, your child or your client need copies of juvenile court records you can contact the...

When a person who has paid into the Social Security system for the required number of employment quarters dies, the surviving spouse or children may be eligible for a one-time payment of $255 to...

A power of attorney is a legal document that gives your chosen person power over your chosen assets. There are many different types of power of attorney, ranging from power to act if you become...

A green card is an identification card that shows its owner is a lawful permanent resident of the United States. If you are a US citizen, you may petition certain members of your family for a US...

When a military member wants to get a divorce or a separation, he needs to figure out which jurisdiction he can file in. State courts have jurisdiction over family law, even for military members....

Building a successful family law practice requires a combination of thoughtful business planning, professional development, networking within the legal community and an understanding of your...

People change their last names for many reasons: marriage, divorce, political reasons, religious reasons, or perhaps they don't like way the name sounds or is spelled. The procedure for changing...

Understand that advance directives for healthcare permit you to furnish instructions to healthcare providers and your family about your wishes concerning medical treatments in the event you become...

A will is a legal document that states how you want your assets distributed after you die. It is an important document that can be difficult and confusing to write, especially if you are a widow...

If you've recently become a single parent, the issue of your child's last name has probably surfaced as one of the important decisions you'll have to make. Perhaps you are now divorced, and you...

Will preparation or estate planning is an extremely important legal process, one that cannot be avoided if you have a sizable estate and substantial assets. While it would be quite simple to leave...

Medical emergencies typically arise with little or no advance warning. Now, thanks to the Family and Medical Leave Act (FMLA), families no longer have the added stress of losing their jobs under...

Although there are moral and social benefits of marriage, there are also legal benefits. For example, the married couple can file taxes jointly and receive joint tax returns, which benefits the...

A birth certificate is needed for many reasons to help identify a person. It contains a person's date of birth, location of birth, and the names of the birth parents. This document is sometimes...

An order of protection, also called a restraining order or protective order, is when someone is legally barred from contacting you. Most states also forbid the person from attempting to get in...

People request a name change on a birth certificate for many reasons, including adoption, typographical errors, adding parental information, gender changes, or just wanting to change their name to...

A power of attorney, sometimes called a letter of attorney, legally gives you the right to make decisions on behalf of another person. This is necessary when the person in question can't attend to...

Marriage, the dissolution of marriage, and remarriage frequently entails the changing of a surname. It might be your own last name, or that of your minor child. It is a simple and straightforward...

A dissolution of marriage decision is sometimes known as a divorce decree. It is a legally binding court order issued by a judge that may contain rulings on property and asset division, custody,...

According to the Washington State Bar Association, a will is a legal document stating what a person wants done with property when deceased. If you have property or other assets, or children, a...

Alzheimer's disease is a progressively debilitating disorder of the brain. Because of the destruction of brain cells as the disease progresses, memory, thinking ability, judgment and communication...

If the vital records agency or hospital made an error on your birth certificate or that of your child, you will need to petition the court to correct the name. Likewise, if you wish to change you...

Financial problems are one of the main causes of divorce. If the financial problems occur before the divorce, and the parties own a home or have other substantial assets, the assets can be used to...

Establishing paternity of a child can be done, even if you are not the biological father. If a father wants to take legal responsibility for a child that is not biologically his, he may do so....

In most cases, if you own a corporation, your share of the interest in the corporation is considered marital property, and is subjected to equitable distribution. If you want to keep your full...

If you are marrying someone who is not your child's biological parent and wish to change the minor's name to reflect the new family name, you will need to obtain the other parent's consent and...

Although death and will preparation is not a topic that most like to tackle, it is essential that you plan properly for your heirs upon your demise. There are several things beyond just writing a...

Before leaving for a kid-free vacation, most parents leave their child in the great hands of friends or family. But what happens when your time away is because of an unexpected injury or illness?...

Calculating a divorce settlement can be as easy or as difficult as the parties want to make it. Often there are assets and liabilities that cannot easily be divided, but the parties can "trade"...

Orders of protection for abuse, more commonly known as restraining or protective orders, legally bar a person from getting into contact with the complainant. In most cases, protective orders are...

This information is for the purpose of obtaining a birth certificate for either getting government issued identification (i.e. driver’s license) or a passport. You can request the information...

Legally changing the middle name of a child is accomplished through the judicial system. In most states, the probate court deals with changing the middle name of a child. In some states, this type...

At some point in life, you may be in a position to make a decision regarding a loved one and their living will. These wills are sometimes called health care declarations or directives. Living...

It is an inevitable fact of today’s economy that some people will fall behind in paying their bills, and have trouble with collection agencies. As people are laid off from their jobs, we could see...

Whether you have been injured at work, in a road traffic accident or whilst just going about your everyday business, you need to know how to win a personal injury settlement. There is no secret...

Caring for an elderly parent can be emotionally and physically draining, particularly when the parent is disabled. As the parent become less independent and unable to handle his affairs, you will...

If you have recently changed your last name or if you will be taking a new last name and want your child's surname to match yours, you will need to check out the laws for name changes in your...

According to the 2008 USA Today article "Living Together No Longer 'Playing House,'" 9.6 percent of all opposite sex couples living together in 2007 were unmarried. Although there is no uniformity...

While Shakespeare penned, "a rose by any other name would smell as sweet," a child's name may need to be changed for a variety of reasons: marriage, divorce, adoption or preference. Legally...

It’s likely that at some point in your life, you’ll need a lawyer (whether starting a business, dealing with divorce or custody issues or defending the accused, among other reasons). And the last...

A restraining order is a court order that can protect you from threats and injuries made by your husband. The court will order your husband to stop harassment and threats of violence and to stay...

If you are a victim of domestic violence, there are legal procedures to protect you from future abuse. Every state has laws regarding your right to request protective or restraining orders against...

To seal records is to conceal court documents that would otherwise be a matter of public record. Sealing records is not the same as expungement, common in criminal matters, where the records are...